Glare hood for assembly on a freely set up display

ABSTRACT

A glare hood for assembly on a freely set up display, for instance display of a photo and/or video camera, wherein the glare hood ( 1 ) is at least partly manufactured from flexible material which, in a condition in which the glare hood ( 1 ) is assembled to the display ( 2 ), applies a clamping force to the display ( 2 ). The invention further provides a blank of a glare hood ( 1 ). In addition, the invention provides a method for fitting a glare hood on a display, wherein the glare hood ( 1 ) is detachably clamped on the display ( 2 ) while deforming a part of the glare hood ( 1 ).

The invention relates to a glare hood for assembly on a freely set updisplay, for instance a display of a photo and/or video camera.

Such a glare hood is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,144,419. The known glarehood, also called the “Hoodman”, serves for reducing and/or preventingblinding of the display as a result of incident ambient light. Suchblinding renders use of the display in bright ambient light difficult oreven impossible, in particular in that the contrast disappears and therepresented image can hardly or no longer be seen. The “Hoodman” to beattached to the display is designed for barring ambient light from thedisplay so that the display remains well visible in, for instance, daylight, bright sunlight and/or different light.

A drawback of the known glare hood is that it is of relative complexdesign and therefore is relatively difficult to manufacture. Inaddition, the known glare hood is relatively little durable due to itscomplicated construction and the associated difficult use. For instance,for the purpose of use, the known glare hood is to be attached to thedisplay in a relatively complicated manner, in particular by attachingdifferent parts of the glare hood with a number of Velcro tapeconnections to the display and to each other. In addition, the displaymay be damaged when, after use, the glare hood is detached from thedisplay again, in that the attachment between the glare hood and thedisplay is relatively hard to disengage. Moreover, due to itsconstruction, the known glare hood is relatively expensive. Anotherdrawback is that after assembly, the known glare hood proves not to bein proper abutment with the display, so that ambient light canundesirably reach the display via slits present between the hood and thedisplay. Further, the known glare hood is relatively unattractive froman esthetic point of view.

The present invention contemplates a glare hood of the type described inthe preamble, which can be used in a relatively simple and easy manner.

According to the invention, to this end, the glare hood is characterizedin that the glare hood is at least partly manufactured from materialflexible such that during use, at least in assembled condition, theglare hood applies a clamping force to the display.

This glare hood can be fitted to the display relatively rapidly, simplyby clamping the glare hood on the display. The clamping force requiredto that end is simply provided by the flexible material of the glarehood. Therefore, use of separate attachment means for the purpose offitting the glare hood to the display is superfluous. As the glare hoodis clamped on the display, the hood can easily maintain a desiredposition of use. Further, the glare hood can be of relatively simpledesign, so that the glare hood can be manufactured relativelyinexpensively and is relatively durable.

An additional advantage of the glare hood according to the invention isthat it can abut against the display relatively tightly and hence canform an attractive unit. In particular, after assembly, the glaze hoodseems to form an integral part of the display.

Preferably, the glare hood is manufactured from a relatively lightmaterial, for instance to prevent a display-retaining arm, extendingbetween the display and an apparatus provided therewith for holding thedisplay, from overloading. Preferably, the flexible material comprises arelatively form-retaining material. In particular, the flexible materialcomprises rubber, for instance a synthetic rubber. This rubber materialis relatively light-weight and inexpensive. Further, this material canoffer the display provided with the glare hood relatively goodprotection, for instance protection against bumping, falling and/orother undesired mechanical influences. Rubber, in particular syntheticrubber, for instance silicone rubber and/or neoprene®, is relativelydurable, flexible, resilient (protective), rough, and light-proof,which, for the use and functioning of the glare hood, are advantageousproperties. The flexible material can be designed in various colors, forinstance in the color of the display. An advantageous color of theflexible material is matt black in view of the prevention of undesiredlight reflection. In a simple manner, the glare hood can substantiallycompletely be made of the flexible material. Moreover, the glare hoodcan be provided wholly or partly in a blank. In that case, the user cansimply form the glare hood from the blank.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the glare hood isprovided with at least one recess for sliding-in the display.

Thus, the glare hood can simply—and therefore rapidly—be slid onto thedisplay. During sliding onto the display, the flexible material candeform for the purpose of giving the desired clamping force to thedisplay. Further, it is advantageous when the glare hood is providedwith relatively thick walls of a relatively resilient material, forinstance the rubber mentioned, for protection of the display received inthe recess. On the other side, the glare hood can be provided withrelatively thin walls so that the hood can be designed to be relativelylight-weight and inexpensive.

Further elaborations of the invention are described in the subclaims.Presently, the invention will be clarified with reference to anexemplary embodiment and the drawing. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 shows a blank of the exemplary embodiment represented in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a blank of an alternative exemplary embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective drawing of a video camera;

FIG. 5 shows a similar drawing as FIG. 4, wherein a glare hood accordingto the invention has been fitted onto the display of the camera; and

FIGS. 6 a-6 b show, in side view and top plan view, respectively, thecamera with glare hood represented in FIG. 5.

FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a glare hood 1 for a freelyset up display, for instance a display 2 of a video camera 10represented in FIG. 4. The use of the glare hood 1 is represented inFIGS. 5, 6. The glare hood 1 is mounted on the display 2 of the camera10 for preventing blinding of the display 2, so that the display 2 iswell visible to the user of the video camera. Thus, a user can use thedisplay 2 in a comfortable manner when filming, taking photos andplaying earlier recorded recordings, without having to hold one eyeagainst the relatively small viewfinder 20 of the camera.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the glare hood 1 is manufacturedentirely from flexible material, which applies a clamping force to thedisplay 2 with the glare hood 1 in assembled condition on the display 2.Due to this clamping force, the glare hood 1 can be fitted on thedisplay 2 and be taken therefrom in a simple manner.

As follows from FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, the glare hood 1 is provided with arecess 6 for sliding the display 2 therein. To this end, the hood 1comprises a tubular part 3 and, connected to the tubular part 3, aflexible wall part 4, bent in non-mounted condition. Together with anend face of the tubular part 3, the flexible wall part 4 bounds therecess 6 mentioned. The display 2 can be included in this recess 6 whiledeforming the flexible wall part 4. What is thus achieved in a simplemanner, is that the glare hood 1 in the condition of use represented inFIG. 5, automatically applies the clamping force to the display 2. Asshown in FIG. 6B, the flexible wall part 4 has a length such that itextends along virtually the entire rear side of the display 2 remotefrom the tube 3. In this manner, the flexible wall part 4 can offerprotection to this display rear side. Moreover, the wall part extendsover substantially the entire upper and lower side of the display.Therefore, the flexible wall part 4 prevents light incidence on thedisplay 2 both at the display upper side and display lower side.

The tubular part 3 of the glare hood 1 tapers from the side of theflexible wall part 4 in a direction away from the display 2. The tubularpart 3 comprises two first sidewalls 8, 9 extending opposite each other,and two sidewalls 11, 12 extending at right angles therebetween andopposite to each other (see FIG. 1). The walls 8, 9, 11, 12 surround aviewing space S via which a user—after assembly of the glare hood 1—canread the display. The flexible wall part 4 of the glare hood 1 connectsthe two opposite first sidewalls 8, 9 of the tubular part 3 simplyintegrally and therefore relatively sturdily to each other.

As shown by the Figures, edges 7 of the end face of the tubular part 3extend substantially in one plane. Therefore, the glare hood 1 isarranged, at least after assembly, to abut substantially air-tightly bythose edges 7 against a substantially flat surface of the display 2.Thus, the glare hood 1 can prevent blinding of the display 2 due tosideways ambient light in a highly effective manner. This mutualabutment of glare hood 1 and display 2 is further promoted by theclamping force between the glare hood 1 and the display 2, as in thepresent exemplary embodiment, this clamping force presses the tube 3 bythe edges 7 against the display 2. Further, the glare hood 1 can protectthe display 2 well against moisture, for instance rain, and/or dust fromsurroundings, in particular due to the proper abutment between the tube3 and the display and in that the display 2 is included in the recess 6of the hood 1.

Preferably, the glare hood 1 is provided—after assembly—with a roughsurface facing the display 2, for instance the inside surface of theflexible wall part 4 and/or the surfaces of the edges 7 of the end faceof the tube 3. As a consequence, undesired sliding of the mounted glarehood 1 can be prevented.

Moreover, the tubular part 3 preferably has a height H such that thedisplay 2 can be touched with the fingers via the viewing space S, atleast with the glare hood 1 in assembled condition. In this manner, theglare hood 1 has sufficient height, but is not unnecessarily high, forpreventing blinding of the display. Due to the height H of the tubularpart, moreover, fingers can reach sufficiently far into the tube 3 ofthe glare hood 1 for, near the display 2, pulling the hood 1 at least byapplying a force to one of the first sidewalls 8, 9, for sliding thehood on and from the display 2. Further, the glare hood 1 can thus beused in combination with a display operable by touch without hinderingthe operation of that screen.

Preferably, the glare hood 1 according to the first exemplary embodimentis manufactured from relatively rigid, at least resilient material fromthe view point of durability and for offering a good protection againstbumping, falling and/or other. The rubber mentioned is an example ofsuch rigid material. However, to the skilled person it is clear thatvarious other materials can be used, which materials can also offer theproperties referred to. In particular, the thickness of at least some ofthe walls 4, 8, 9, 11,12 of the glare hood 1 is in the range ofapproximately 5-20 mm. With such thicknesses, the resilient walls canabsorb undesired mechanical forces well for protecting the display 2.However, the walls of the glare hood 1 can also be manufactured fromthicker or thinner material. The wall thickness can for instance be inthe range of approximately 1-5 mm, in particular for saving material.

FIG. 2 shows a blank of the glare hood 1 according to the firstexemplary embodiment. The blank comprises the flexible wall part 4, aswell as the tubular part 3 which is formed from the first sidewalls 8,9, and the second sidewalls 11, 12. Via lines 13, 14, the secondsidewalls 11, 12 extend on longitudinal sides of a first tube sidewall9. These lines 13, 14 can for instance comprise disconnecting lines, inparticular cutting lines, tearing lines, perforation lines or the like,so that first, the second sidewalls 11, 12 can be separated from thattube sidewall 9 before these walls 11, 12 are provided at right anglesbetween the other sidewalls 8, 9 for the purpose of forming the glarehood 1. Another possibility is that the second sidewalls 11, 12 arepivoted along those lines 13, 14, to then be attached to longitudinaledges 15 of the other tube sidewall 8. Mutual attachment of the variouswall parts 8, 9, 11, 12 of the blank can be carried out in differentmanners, for instance in an undetachable manner by means of a glueconnection so that the glare hood 1 needs only be assembled once, and/orin a detachable manner, for instance with snap connections or Velcrotape so that, after use, the glare hood 1 can simply be returned to aneasily storable form.

FIG. 3 shows a blank of a second exemplary embodiment of the glare hood1. Here, the two walls 11, 12 are connected to the tube sidewall 9 so asto be pivotable via folding lines 13, 14. Free longitudinal edges of thesecond walls 11, 12 are provided with dovetailed connecting lips 16 forcooperation with dovetailed connecting recesses 17 provided in thelongitudinal edges 15 of the other tube sidewall 8. For the purpose offorming the glare hood 1, the first walls 8, 9 and the second walls 11,12 can be moved towards each other, or pivoted towards each other,respectively, so that the tube 3 represented in FIG. 1 is formed. Theconnecting lips 16 are then simply inserted into the respective recesses17 in order that the glare hood retains its form of use. After use, theglare hood 1 can simply be returned to the flat condition represented inFIG. 3, for instance for the purpose of transport and/or storagethereof.

It is self-evident that the invention is not limited to the exemplaryembodiments described. Various modifications are possible within theframework of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

For instance, the glare hood 1 can be destined for use with one or moredisplays and/or LCD-screens of amateur, semi-professional andprofessional equipment, for example Hi8 cameras, DV and DVCAMvideocameras, digital photo cameras. The glare hood can also be intendedfor displays of route planners, pocket computers, mobile phones,electronic calendars and the like. As a rule, such displays arerelatively small. However, the glare hood 1 can also be arranged for usewith larger displays, for instance of laptops and/or free standingplasma screens.

In addition, the glare hood can be manufactured wholly or partially fromthe flexible material mentioned. The flexible material can comprisedifferent materials, for instance one or more suitable plastics, foammaterial, flexible metal and/or alloy, natural and/or synthetic rubber,cellular rubber, the silicone rubber mentioned and/or neoprene®, and/ora combination of these and/or other materials.

Further, the glare hood 1 is preferably designed to be wholly orpartially black, however, the hood 1 can also be provided with one ormore colors. For instance, the outside of the glare hood can, forinstance, be substantially of the same color as an outside of therespective display and/or a respective camera, while an inside of theglare hood has a different color, for instance matt black or matt gray.

Furthermore, the clamping force can be effected, for instance, by springmeans, which spring means are arranged for moving a moveable wall partand a tubular part 3 towards each other for clamping the display 2therebetween. In that case, the moveable wall part can for instance bepivotally and/or integrally connected to an edge of the tubular part 6of the glare hood in order that the glare hood can be fitted on thedisplay in a simple manner, in particular by clampingly suspending theglare hood from the display 2.

In addition, the tubular part 3 can comprise different forms and it cantaper or not taper.

Further, in unassembled condition, the flexible wall part can besubstantially bent or, conversely, not bent. In the latter case, in theassembled condition, that wall part can, for instance, be brought intoan at least partly bent position for effecting a clamping force on thedisplay.

Further, the glare hood can be manufactured in various sizes for usewith displays of various types and sizes.

The tubular part 3 can further have different heights H, for instance aheight H such that fingers can no longer touch the display via theviewing space S.

The glare hood 1 can be manufactured in many ways, for instance by meansof a suitable blank.

Further, the glare hood can, for instance, be formed partly, preferablycompletely by inserting a curable material and/or curable compositioninto a suitable mold cavity and having it cure therein for forming thisglare hood part, at least partly. Preferably, the material and/orcomposition to be inserted into the mold cavity comprises, at leastafter its curing, the mentioned flexible material of the glare hood. Themold cavity mentioned to be used in this method is for instance formedfor substantially forming the entire glare hood. The mold cavity can,for instance, be provided in a mold in a simple manner. An advantage ofthis method is that with it, the glare hood can directly be manufacturedin the desired shape, without, for instance, to that end first a glarehood blank needing to be made, which blank is to be brought in the finalshape by a user. Another advantage of this method is that it enables arelatively large number of such glare hoods to be manufacturedrelatively rapidly and in a relatively inexpensive manner.

1. A glare hood for assembly on a freely set up display, for instance adisplay of a photo and/or video camera, wherein the glare hood (1) is atleast partly manufactured from flexible material which, in a conditionin which the glare hood (1) is assembled to the display (2), applies aclamping force to the display (2).
 2. A glare hood according to claim 1,wherein the glare hood (1) is provided with at least one recess (6) forsliding the display (2) into.
 3. A glare hood according to claim 2,wherein said recess (6) is at least partly bounded by said flexiblematerial.
 4. A glare hood according to claim 1, which glare hood (1)comprises a tubular part (3) and a flexible wall part (4) connected tothe tubular part (3), which wall part (4), together with an end face ofthe tubular part (3) bounds a recess (6) in which a said display (2) canbe included while deforming the flexible wall part (4).
 5. A glare hoodaccording to claim 4, wherein the flexible wall part, in unassembledcondition, is bent.
 6. A glare hood according to at least claim 4,wherein edges (7) of the end face of the tubular part (3) are arrangedfor abutment, at least after assembly, with the display (2).
 7. A glarehood according to at least claim 4, wherein said flexible wall part (4)interconnects two opposite walls (8, 9) of said tubular part (3).
 8. Aglare hood according to at least claim 4, wherein the tubular part (3)tapers from the side of the flexible wall part (4).
 9. A glare hoodaccording to claim 1, wherein the flexible material comprises rubber,for instance a synthetic rubber.
 10. A glare hood according to at leastclaim 9, wherein said flexible material comprises neoprene®.
 11. A glarehood according to at least claim 9, wherein said flexible materialcomprises silicone rubber.
 12. A glare hood according to claim 1,wherein the flexible material is black.
 13. A glare hood according to atleast claim 4, wherein the tubular part (3) has a height (H) such thatthe display can be touched by the fingers, at least with the glare hoodin assembled condition.
 14. A glare hood according to claim 1,provided—after assembly—with a rough surface facing the display (2). 15.A glare hood according to claim 1, which hood (1) consists substantiallyof said flexible material.
 16. A blank of a glare hood (1) according toat least claim
 1. 17. A blank according to claim 16, provided withfolding lines for folding the blank into the glare hood.
 18. A blankaccording to claim 16, wherein the blank is provided with attachmentparts (16, 17) for retaining the glare hood (1) made from the blank in aposition of use.
 19. A blank according to at least claim 16, wherein theblank is provided with disconnecting lines, for instance cutting lines,perforation lines and/or tearing lines, for separating different wallparts of the glare hood (1) from each other before these wall parts areattached to each other for forming the glare hood (1).
 20. A method forfitting a glare hood onto a display, wherein the glare hood (1) isdetachably clamped on the display (2) while deforming a part of theglare hood (1).
 21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the display(2) is slid into a recess (6) of the glare hood (1).
 22. A method formanufacturing a glare hood according to at least claim 1, wherein atleast a part of the glare hood is formed, by inserting a curablematerial and/or curable composition into a mold cavity and having itcure therein to form the glare hood part.
 23. A method according toclaim 22, wherein said mold cavity is formed for forming substantiallythe entire glare hood.
 24. A mold, evidently intended and suitable foruse in a method according to claim 22, which mold comprises said moldcavity.